spaceport america

We went on the Follow the Sun tour which cost $60 per Adult but after the trip we felt is was a let down. We spent 45 minutes in the bus getting there and all we got to see was a couple of buildings, 2 Airport fire vehicles, a sweeper truck and the runway and a whole load of chit chat from the driver. Take my advise, save your money and find a trip where you get to see the whole picture not just whats on site at the time of your visit.

We took the Follow the Sun tour out of Elephant Butte, New Mexico to the Spaceport. Our tour guide Gary made the ride fun with his facts about the Spaceport and all the activity going on in the area. We were able to visit with the emergency personnel and see the emergency vehicles, passenger terminal and mission control. We were able to take pictures on the runway and outside Virgin Galactic's hangar. If you are a nerd or space junkie do this tour now before the first flight - you won't have this much access without paying astronaut prices!

We knew it was likely we would not be able to catch the bus tours, so we decided we would just drive out to see it and try to get some photos if we would be allowed to do so. As we arrived near the guarded entrance, the security guard came out, and when we asked if we could take photos, he said sure. But could my hubby give him his driver's license so he could record some information before we could pass and go only as far as the Parking Lot that was provided. So he went in, then came right back out returning the license and we were able to get a fairly good view of the back of the building, and take several different photos. There is a company in Elephant Butte that does offer bus tours and you apparently get to see inside the SpacePort building. But from all my husband could discern from their website, was a price range of $35-$59. But no description of what you actually received for that price, if the difference was for child or adult, or why there even would be a price range. But it seemed like it would be interesting place to visit. Perhaps in the future, they will allow visitors w/o being a part of a tour. or maybe not for security reasons. We enjoyed our drive, saw some nice scenery and it surely does look very Intriguing!

If you're near Las Cruces, take the Spaceport tour. You will get a sense of the future in an environment that is so old, set in a pristine wilderness, that the contrast between what the Spaceport represents and how the land has changed so little is just overwhelming. Virgin Galactic has a lot riding on this, but the Spaceport will have other tenants, besides the Space-X facility which is also planning space ventures operating from the "Port". Expect a three hour experience.

Spaceport America was an excellent tour. When will you ever get to drive out and stand on the 12,000 foot runway that future astronaut-tourists will take off and land on? While this is still a small facility the tour of the operations and firehouse were very interesting and seeing the 100,000 sq. ft. Virgin Galactic hanger was impressive. The shuttle bus was comfortable and the guide was extremely knowledgeable about the spaceport mission, possible future enhancements as well as the surrounding area. I really enjoyed and it was well worth taking this trip if you're at all interested in the future of man in space.

For a space junkie, Spaceport America is a must! SpacePlace in Elephant Butte, NM, is the originator of this tour and they do an admirable job for the money. The drive out to the spaceport is over an hour but the bus is comfy and small carrying about 16-18. Your bus driver is so knowledgeable that the time passes swiftly. I would almost say that he is as interesting as the spaceport itself!Note, though, by the very nature of the project, access is limited. You will not be touring the hangar and viewing the shuttle or aircraft up close and personal. But you do get to go into the emergency vehicle building, stand on the runway, and photograph yourself in front of the hangar. May not sound too exciting, but believe me, it was. There were four in our party and we were all duly impressed. And to think, there are only 526 people on the wait list to be jetted out to space. The first $200,00 of my sure-to-come lottery winnings will go to my reservation...and the next $600,000 will go to my companions' reservations!

We booked our tour through Follow The Sun, and met the van and Gary, the driver, at the "quiet" parking lot. Our 45 min. ride was filled with facts about the countryside. We were fortunate to have 2 local women who have written books on the area, and grew up in Truth or Consequences so they knew info even Gary didn't know. Our son has been involved in the space program and it was a thrill so see where the next great movement will be. While we didn't go in the Virgin Galactic bldg. we did go in the control bldg. and appreciated what the future will be. Walking on the space-way was a thrill and can't wait to see the mission come to fruition. Everytlhing was organized and on time....hope Mr. Branson will allow us in his bldg. in the future.

We got to go out on the runway, view the passenger terminal and hanger from a short distance, take lots of pictures and go inside the building that will be mission control. When the first passenger shuttle takes off we will be able to look back at our tour and visualize where we were standing. Gary, our tour guide, at Follow the Sun tours, loves his job,and was full of interesting facts about the area and the project. So much wonderful information which made us want to continue to follow the progress of Spaceport. We look forward to a return trip.

We were very pleased with our "Follow the Sun" tour, but it probably isn't for everyone. As other reviewers have reported, you don't get to see any spacecraft, but we were delighted to see the property, the emergency vehicles and the buildings, and to hear about the current and future activities. Our guide, Gary, was knowledgeable and informative, telling us not only about the Spaceport, but also something of the history of the area on our 45 minute rides to and from the property. Travel tip--there is a single rest room stop about an hour into the tour.

OMG!! Growing up watching Star Trek, Star Wars, et al, I always hoped to live to see commercial space travel to other planets. Well, here is humankind's first step. The "Follow The Sun" tour is the only way to visit Spaceport America, the first privately owned spaceport. Once the flights start in the summer of 2013 the tour may not allow you on the runway or in Mission Control, so book now at FTSTours.com. Fascinating!

The Follow The Sun tour company's excellent guide, Mark, gave us an informative 3 hour tour of the still being built Spaceport America. It is owned and operated cooperatively with the New Mexico Spaceport Authority and private companies, primarily Richard Branson of Virgin Airlines fame. Spacecraft will be able to launch either vertically or horizontally from Spaceport and will be able to land there too. It is right over the mountain from White Sands Missile Range which has restricted airspace which covers the Spaceport too. Virgin Galactic and the White Knight II spacecraft have 529 people signed up to do a 3 hour trip that will take them into space for $200,000 a piece. Other companies like Space X and Armadillo Aerospace have plans to test and operate from here and NASA and DoD will also. Two mission control buildings are built and currently being "outfitted" inside. Spaceport is located about 35 miles outside Truth or Consequences. You can only visit it on a guided tour. Our tour guide had interesting facts about the companies and people involved in the private aerospace business. Although the tour is a little pricey, we felt that it was worth it. It was the best tour that we have been on in a long time. It was an exciting experience to see the future today.

Our tour guide was excellant. This tour is not for everyone but for my husband it was perfect. Why we came to T or C was to take this tour. We actually got to go out on the runway. This will stop soon, as flights start, no more tourists on the runway. NM is very ahead of it's time with space and you will learn a lot about this on the tour. Kudos to all of it. As others have noted, this is ongoing. There was no aircraft there to view but by taking this tour now you will be doing things that others can not do coming up when the program gets going in full swing. It's kind of neat to think I got to go on the runway with the tour van, as close as I'll get to this trip unless I win the lottery to afford the ticket. LOL This tour will be something to look back on as this adventure gets going.

I drove 30 miles from TorC (not 20, as advertised) to get there. It was a Sunday, and a direct shot, with very little traffic. I was behind a Scenic tours van and pulled up with it at the security checkpoint. However, I could not get in. I was informed one needs to call ahead in advance, make a reservation with the tour, and go through TSA for clearance. I was quoted $50-80 for such a tour. Also, one STILL cannot go inside the Spaceport, as the van merely drives around the hanger(s). I now understand why many of the 'locals' have not gone there.The drive from TorC takes one past the Elephant Butte Recreational area, and along the Jornada del Muerto. It is a pretty and easy drive.

First thing to consider if you are thinking of taking this tour is that it is a work in progress. It is not complete. There are no spacecraft to see. There are no operations going on. Your tour begins at your assigned pick up location (for us it was in the town of Truth or Consequences) across from the Pelican Spa in their parking lot. A "Follow the Sun" tour van arrives to pick you up and drives through the town pointing out some sights and explaining its history. You drive for about 45 minutes to the Spaceport site and have to provide government issued ID to the security booth for entrance. The van then drives you past the terminal and points out how the terminal was built to the shape of the mountains and blend in with its surroundings; that was kind of neat.Next, you drive a few feet to the operations center (which was vacant at the time we were there) and you get to look in the windows at the empty space. Then, you drive on the actual runway and park to take some pictures of the runway. I believe the man said it was 15,000 feet long.Next, you then drive to the spaceport entrance but you are only allowed to get within 100 feet of the building as construction was going on inside. Here you take a few more pictures.You are there for approximately 20 minutes or so and learn about what Virgin Gallatic is developing and other interesting details about the site and Spaceport America's purpose.When we left, we then drove to a reseovior and walked around a bit. Next stop is at a dam. More pictures.All, in all, it was $60 a person and if you are really interested in space history and this type of thing, or want to be a person who can say they stood on the runway of Spaceport America, then I recommend the trip. Otherwise, it was alot of money for nothing.P.S. Unrelated to this review, but on the way out of town, be sure and stop at Maria's Mexican Restaurant (on the left hand side) as we had the best mexican food ever at a very reasonable price!

Mark, our guide did a fantastic job putting the site and the big plans for space travel into context and we learnt a lot - the kids aged 17 and 13 were fascinated too. Standing on the runway was really special - we will reflect on it when the spacecraft are doing their first takeoff. The location is 2 hours from albq, and the tour was 3 hours - so its a full day trip - but really excellent - we will be back!